The Aberdeen board, meanwhile, have yet to sanction a move in the January transfer window as McInnes doggedly hangs onto the coat-tails of their Parkhead rivals at the top of the table.

The Dons gaffer may still move for a new player before the end of the month, but it is likely to be on a one-in-one-out basis, with Paul Quinn’s departure to Ross County, probably early next week, likely to free up a wage.

McInnes insists there’s no jealousy when he sees Deila being handed dosh in mid-season to strengthen his squad, with third-place Hearts also making moves to bring in fresh faces at Tynecastle for the second half of the campaign.

There may be frustration but as Dons prepare to face Dundee tonight, McInnes points to the 3-2 victory for his 10 men at Dingwall on Sunday as evidence they are up for the battle.

He said: “We try to strengthen when we can in the two windows of opportunity to do it. We put together a squad in the summer that would stand us well in the campaign and that hasn’t changed.

“However, at times you can see the benefit of bringing in a player who could help you in January.

“Look at the Championship, where Rangers and Hibs are trying to strengthen because they see the importance of getting over the line and the promotion that will bring success.

“Celtic brought in a player during the week which shows, again, the gulf between them and the rest. The fee and the boy’s wages would equate to my full footballing budget.

“Am I envious when I see Celtic make signings? No, I expect them to make them, that’s the way it is.

“We all want the best. We have a very supportive board and I’m not the only manager who would like something.

“You don’t always get what you want but we have a very good squad of players who can be successful.

“The players have done remarkably well over the last season-and-a-half in the league campaigns and they deserve a lot of credit.

“The gap between us and the team behind us was pleasing and while we got closer to Celtic we were still a good bit away from them. That is not to say we can’t keep striving for more and more from the boys.

“They showed last week there is a fight there to keep doing well. It is important everybody here continues to show that fight.”

The Aberdeen board found £300,000 to land Kenny McLean from St Mirren this time last year and he has proved value for money.

McInnes would love to land that quality again and insists he is not interested in bringing in players to fill jerseys, but who can make a telling contribution over the length of their contract with the club.

He added: “It is important we look and see what is available, but I don’t just want a signing for the here and now. It has to be for the longer term as well.

“Kenny was a good signing. We could have waited until the summer but we might have lost out or been in fierce competition with others. He has become a great asset.

“We would love to make another signing like that and if we can’t then we will go with what we have. Players such as Kenny rarely become available and, when they do, you have to work hard to get them.

“In general, every signing has an element of risk. We won’t get every one right, but we have to get as many right as possible.

“We also don’t want to become a club that becomes dependent on loans, but they have worked for us.

“Others we have brought in to be competitive or to supplement the squad haven’t worked as well.

“I would rather make a signing who could come in and make an impact in our starting line-up.”

Aberdeen can move to within three points of Celtic with victory over Dundee and it’s a good omen for them to be playing on a Friday night.

The Dons have won all five of their previous fixtures played at that time of the week going back five seasons and another victory would leave them well placed ahead of the visit of the Hoops to Pittodrie a week on Wednesday.

Aberdeen's Mark Reynolds is sent off by referee Crawford Allan

McLean says his team-mates have been buoyed by recent results in the league, including their victory at Ross County after the early dismissal of defender Mark Reynolds.

He said: “We’ve taken loads of encouragement from winning in those circumstances and it felt more than a normal win.

“It’s good for the confidence but whether that does anything in terms of challenging is another thing because Celtic went out on Tuesday and got a great result against Hamilton.

“All we’re doing is trying to keep winning matches and see where that takes us. Right now we’re on a good run and we just want to keep it going.

“Everyone expects Celtic to win the league. After the result the other night people think they will go on from here.

“It’s in Celtic’s hands, so we can only focus on ourselves. If we win the next two games it would be great, but we have to focus on Dundee first.

“The Celtic game hasn’t even been mentioned in the dressing room.

“Dundee are very good technically and score a lot of goals and are playing with loads of confidence right now.

“I enjoy the Friday nights, playing under the floodlights. I’ve been here a year now and it has been everything I had hoped.

“I went through a sticky start, but I’m in the team and playing most weeks. I just want to keep on improving.”